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VermontH.2222025-2026 SessionHouse

An act relating to civil orders of protection

Sponsored By: Angela Arsenault (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Temporary vehicle access for abuse survivors

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont courts can grant temporary vehicle possession through a relief-from-abuse order. You must own or jointly own the vehicle, be its main loan payer, or have primary possession or control. You also qualify if the defendant has restricted your use of the vehicle. For a regular order, the court must find abuse and danger of further abuse. Alternatively, the defendant must be incarcerated and convicted of an offense specified by the law. Emergency vehicle access requires a finding that it is needed to escape abuse or prevent further abuse. The order gives you possession for a set time, not ownership.

Abuse program duties affect protection orders

Beginning July 1, 2025, Vermont courts can require defendants under relief-from-abuse orders to complete a domestic violence accountability program. The program must be approved by the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence. Not completing it is not a crime, but can lead to civil contempt. Successful completion counts as a substantial change in circumstances when seeking to change the protection order. Courts can also consider failure to complete the program when deciding whether to extend the order.

Broader stalking and sexual assault protections

Beginning July 1, 2025, unauthorized electronic or location tracking can count toward stalking in Vermont civil protection cases. It must target a person or their internet or wireless activity for at least 12 continuous hours, or on two or more occasions. A pattern also includes two or more acts of following, monitoring, surveillance, threatening, or interfering with someone's property. These acts can happen over any period, however short, directly or through others, using any method or device. Threats do not have to be openly stated, and constitutionally protected activity is excluded. Stalking requires conduct that makes a reasonable person fear for safety or suffer serious emotional distress. The definition includes fears of sexual harm, unlawful restraint, injury, or death, and major changes to home, travel, or work routines. The sexual assault definition also covers listed sexual offenses, including lewd conduct and offenses involving children in sexual performances.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angela Arsenault

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Barbara Rachelson

    Democratic • House

  • Kenneth W Goslant

    Republican • House

  • Kevin "Coach" B Christie

    Democratic • House

  • Martin J LaLonde

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on June 5, 2025

    6/9/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor on June 5, 2025

    6/5/2025House

  3. Delivered to Governor on May 30, 2025

    5/30/2025House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/27/2025House

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/23/2025House

  6. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/23/2025House

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/22/2025House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/21/2025Senate

  9. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/20/2025Senate

  10. New Business/Third Reading

    5/20/2025Senate

  11. 3rd reading ordered

    5/16/2025Senate

  12. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to

    5/16/2025Senate

  13. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Vyhovsky for Committee on Judiciary

    5/16/2025Senate

  14. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Government Operations

    5/16/2025Senate

  15. Unfinished Business/Second Reading

    5/16/2025Senate

  16. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

    5/15/2025Senate

  17. New Business/Second Reading

    5/15/2025Senate

  18. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary

    5/14/2025Senate

  19. Second Reading

    5/14/2025Senate

  20. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/14/2025Senate

  21. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary

    3/25/2025Senate

  22. Read third time and passed

    3/20/2025House

  23. Action Calendar: Third Reading

    3/20/2025House

  24. Third Reading ordered

    3/19/2025House

  25. Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to

    3/19/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 46)Opens in a new window

    6/11/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/30/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/21/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/25/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/25/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/13/2025

    PDF

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